Somebody actually wrote a whole book about that topic. It's John J. McClusker, Money and Exchange in Europe and America, 1600-1775: A Handbook. I have a copy, but have temporarily forgotten where I put it. The VA currency was worth a "little bit more" than the SC currency by 1775, but not by a large margin. From 1730 to 1776, it took ~7 South Carolina pounds (also called "current money") to equal one pound sterling. The VA currency wasn't a lot different...at least before the war. After which, times and currencies got real complicated. If you really want to know how much it took in Amsterdam, Zürich, or London currency for a settler to get over to SC, and how he had to exchange his money among NY, PA, VA, NC and SC currencies, then you'd probably find it quite interesting. It's definitely not light bedtime reading. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Betty Bivins" <halbet@angus1841.com> To: <scedgefi@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 8:04 PM Subject: [SCEDGEFI] phrase-Virginia money In certain transcriptions in old documents from this time period, I have seen reference to the phrase, "__pounds Virginia money." as per the snip below in the estate in SC in 1783. Does anyone know what this really means? I know that there were many fluctuations back and forth between the pound and the American currency around the time of the Revolution but have never seen an explanation of our monetary system. Does anyone know of a website or reference to one that would explain this term? Thank you for your time. betty in ga Joseph Minter estate (1783), Abbeville County, South Carolina Probate Box 65, pkg. 1562. Will of Joseph Minter (Page 1) I Joseph Minter of the County of Granville & province of North Carolina being sick & weak but of sound reason & memory do constitute & appoint this my last will & testament. I dispose of my estate as follows. .......... 6th I give & bequeath to my Daughter Annamariah Minter Fifty pounds Virginia money to be paid out of the rest of my estate to be delivered to her at her marriage or lawful age.